The debate is high-stakes for both campaigns, as it’s their first time going head-to-head on stage since the contentious 2020 election.
For Biden, the showdown comes as he grapples with poor approval numbers and multiple conflicts on the international stage, as well concerns over his age.
For Trump, it comes just two weeks before he’s set to be sentenced for his conviction in a criminal trial in Manhattan and amid scrutiny over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Here’s how to watch the debate, which is set to air at 9 p.m. ET from Atlanta. And here are five key questions heading into the program:
What version of Trump shows up? The former president will want to balance his characteristic brashness with a more restrained, presidential demeanor as he seeks to convince voters that he’s ready to return to the White House, experts say.
Trump’s bombastic style at his rallies works to energize his base, but could come across to some voters in the middle as too coarse in contrast with Biden. At the same time, Democrats say they’re hoping Trump gives a chaotic showing that can help them hammer home their warnings about another Trump term.
Does Biden come across as sharp? Biden’s reelection bid has been dogged by concerns about his age and mental fitness for another four-year term, and some of his verbal slip-ups and physical stumbles have made for problematic headlines as he campaigns for office.
The incumbent will want to pull off a largely gaffe-free performance that projects confidence and assuages those worries, observers said.
How are Trump and Hunter Biden’s guilty verdicts handled? Trump is taking the debate stage in Atlanta as the first former president convicted of felony crimes, raising questions about how the night will address his legal woes.
Polling has shown Trump maintaining an edge over Biden in key battlegrounds even after the guilty verdict in Manhattan, but Biden’s campaign has been going in. At the same time, Republicans have seized on the recent conviction of Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in a federal gun case — and experts say Trump could try to provoke his rival by leaning in.
Does Trump spar with the CNN moderators? Trump has come to be known for his attacks and criticisms against the media, and Thursday night could see more sparring with CNN’s moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
CNN’s Kasie Hunt cut off an interview with Trump’s campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt earlier this week after she criticized the journalists slated to moderate the event.
Will there be a clear winner? Experts are split on whether the debate — scheduled before both parties’ conventions and before states have cast general election ballots – will have an impact on the race.
Many voters have already made up their minds about 2024, but a standout performance or viral moment could still swing some voters in the middle, or motivate parts of either base to turn out in November.
Read more from The Hill’s Julia Mueller and Julia Manchester.
